Method of separating barytes from ores.



C. J. GREENSTRBET. METHOD OF SBPARATING BABYTES FROM 0113s.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1912. 1,99.

Patented Aug. 5,

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To'all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES J. GREEN-s'rnnn'r, a citizen of. the United States of America, anda resident ofWebster Groves, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri,have'i-nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods ofSeparating Barytes from ()res, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawin s,forming a part of this specification.

y invention relates to a method of separating: barytes from zinc andother ores found natively combined with each other.

There are large deposits of zinc and barytes ores present in differentsections of the United States, and particularly in western Missouri,which never have beendeveloped for the reason that no practicable methodfor separating zinc and barytes ores has heretofore been discovered, itbeing a fact well known to those familiar with the art thatit isimpossible to separate ores ofthis kind by mechanical means, such asjigs, or tables, due to the specific gravity of zinc ores and barytesbeing substantially the same. It is also a well known fact that, whileit is-possibleto effect ,a separation of the ores by chemical action,all of the methods heretofore proposed for soseparating the ores havebeen such as to involve too much expense to be practicable from ,acommercial standpoint.

The object of my invention is to provide a-=method that is practicablefrom a-commercial standpoint, by which the zinc and barytes ores may beeffectually separated.

In carrying out my method, I make use of a: suitable salt; for example,sodium chlorid,

sodium sulfate, or the bisulfate of sodium where only the sulfid of zincis present. The salt or a combination of salts is mixed or combined withthe ores to be separated, after which the ores and salt are heated in asuitable vessel to a temperature sufliciently high to render the saltmolten. By so doing, I cause the barytesto separate from the, zinc ores,whether zinc sulfid, zinc carbonate, or zinc silicate, and enter intothe. .molten salt/ in flotation,- thus leaving the zinc ore free, orpracticallyfree, of barytes. The barytes is separated from the zinc oresin a finely divided state in the salt or-salt's andi suchi separation isoccasioned by the molten saltor salts aotmgtto disintegrateordissolve'the'barytesout of the zine ores.

Specification of Letters meat. Application-fil ed December 20, 1912'.Serial No. 737,777.

Patented Aug. 5,1913.

This separation is effected urely as a physical action, and not as acliemical reaction; consequently, the chemical constitution of thebarytes as well as the zinc ore is not changed. Inasmuch as the barytesis separated in a finely divided state, it enters read- 11y into themolten saltin flotation and suspension therein; and remains thus untilthe molten salt and' barytes have been withdrawn from the vessel inwhich the separation of the barytes is accomplished. The

molten. salt, with the barytes suspendedv therein, is withdrawn from thevessel containing. the mixture, leaving the zinc ore, the barytes isprecipitated from the molten salt by any desired procedure, such forinstance, as" that hereinafter mentioned, and the latter is'removed in asuitable manner, thus giving the desired free barytes.

While any suitable step for precipitation of the barytes from the moltensalt may be followed, Ipreferably accomplish such precipitation bydelivering the molten salt and the barytes suspended therein into asettling tank containing a quantity of water.

The accompanying drawing is a section of an apparatus in which my methodmay be carried out.

In practicing my method, I first crush the zinc and barytes ores tobreak them up to any degree that may be found desirable or take barytesconcentrates direct and mix therewith a suitable amount of salt orsalts,

the quantity of salt or salts used being preferably about double theproportion of barytes in the ores. The ores and salt, having beenthoroughly mixed, are then placed in a suitable crucible, or othervessel, such as that indicated by. the numeral 1 in the accompanyingdrawlng, located in a furnace of any suitable construction, to whichheat may be applied in any desired manner. The heat suppliedissuflicient to raise the temperature of the mixture in the vessel 1 tothe melting point of the salt in the mixture, care being taken to avoida temperature sufliciently. great to cause volatilization of the salt.The mixture being heated to the temperature specified, the barytes isdis-- salt solution is thereafter withdrawn from the tank. The zinc oremay be removed from the vessel 1 after the salt and barytes have beenwithdrawn therefrom, and to permit such removal, I connect to thecrucible a lower pipe 4 that is normally closed by suitable means,-through WhlCh the zinc ore may be extracted.

It should be mentioned that the salt used in carrying out my method maybe recovered by evaporation of the water from the saltand water solutionand be used over and over, after it has been withdrawn from the settlingtank in which precipitation of the barytes occurs.

I would add that it is possible to carry out my method in a slightlymodified way, towit, by.applying flame or radiated or reflected heatdirectly to the ores and salt combined with them. In so doing, themixture may be placed on the floorof a furnace, and direct flame, orreflected heat, applied to the mass. In practicing a method of thismodified description, the salt becomes molten, and the molten salt andbarytes sink through the mass of material to a lower position, while thezinc ore will become presentas aporous mass above the salt and barytes.

It will be perceived that in'carrying out my method first described, themolten salt and barytes suspended therein become present at the top ofthe mass under treatment;

while, when the modified method is followed,-

they become present at the bottom of the mass, and in view of the factthat there may be seeming confliet between the statements of thedifferent results in following the different methods, I desire to makethe following statement: When the first described method is followed,the mass of zinc ore and barytes with a salt or salts combined therewithare evenly heated throughout while in a suitable vessel, due to the-heatbeing applied at the bottom or sides of the vessel; and, as a result,the molten salt and barytes that become suspended therein rise to thesurface of the. mass; or otherwise expressed,

- the zinc ore settles at the bottom ofthe vessel with consequentdisplacement of the molten salt and barytes to the upper level of themass. When, on the contrary, heat is applied only to' the surface of themass of material undergoing treatment, the top 'portion of the massreceives the heat, while the lower portion of the mass remains at the Inthe foregoing description I have set forth my method as utilized forseparating barytes from zinc ores, and while I have so described myimprovement I wish it understood that I am cognizant that barytes may beseparated by my method from metallic ores, other than zinc ores, Ihaving found, by ex eriment, that my method may be successfu ly used intreatin the following: lead and barytes ores, lead, zinc and barytesores, and lead, zinc and barytes ores carrying copper; I therefore claimprotection for my method when utilized for separating barytes from oresof all kinds from which itmay be separated by following my method.

While I have herein specified the use of a salt or salts as the medlumfor dissolving barytes to permit separation thereof from ores inpracticing my method, I wish it understood that I do not thereby limitmyself to the use of a salt, but claim protection for the method, whenpractised with the use of any equivalent for a salt as hereincontemplated.

Believing it to be new with me to separate-barytes from metallic ores ingeneral, from which barytes may beseparated b following the essentialsteps of my method: I wish it understood that I do not limit myself tothe exact steps of the method carried out in accordance with thedescription first given, or in accordance with the-modification I haveset forth, but claim my method broadly when 'ractised by following anyfication involve placing with the ore to be treated, the chemical agentcapable of dissolving the' barytes present with the ore, then heatingthe chemical agent to a degree to provide for the barytes belngdissolved by such chemical agentand, as a succeeding step, washing thedissolved barytes from the ore in any suitable manner,-t-hismodification v differing from both the method involving? flotation, orthe first modification lin the I practice 50f which the"dissolvedbarytes settles out of'theore. 1

For clearness-of description, I wish to -i2o state thatthe wordsdissolve and dis-" solved, as used herein, are used w'ithfltheintentionthat they will be understood tomean,

the separation into a fluid medium offparti cles ofa' solid body withoutreducing-said particles to a liquid state.-

I claim- 4 "1. The method of separa j metallic andlbarytes. ore, wh chplacing with the ore a chemical ."agent 'oa';

pable of dissolving barytes when heated, heating the ore and chemicalagent to a sufficient degree to dissolve the barytes, and re moving thebarytes from the metallic ore.

2. Themethod of separating barytes from metallic and barvtes ore, whichconsists in placing with the ore a chemical agent capable of dissolvingbarytes when heated, heating the ore and chemical agent to a sufficientdegree to dissolve the barytes, removing the mixture of barytes andchemical agent from the metallic ore, and thereafter separating thebarytes and said chemical agent.

3. The method of separating barytes from metallic and barytes ore, whichconsists in placing with the ore a salt capable of dissolving baryteswhen heated to the melting point of the salt, heating the ore andsalt-to a sufiicient degree to melt the salt and dissolve the barytes,and removing the barytes from the metallic ore.

4. The method of separating barytes from metallic and barytes ore, whichconsists in placing with the ore a salt capable of dissolving baryteswhen heated to the melting point of the salt, heating the ore and saltto a sufficient degree to melt the salt and dissolve the barytes,removing the mixture of barytes and salt from the metallic ore, andthereafter separating the'barytes and salt.

' 5. The method of separating barytes from metallic and barytes ore,which consists in placing chlorid of sodium with the ore, heating theore and chlorid of sodium to a sufiie cient degree to melt the chloridof sodium and dissolve the barytes, and removing the barytes from themetallic ore.

6. The method of separating barytes from metallic and barytes ore, whichconsists in placing chlorid of sodium with the ore, heat ing the ore andchlorid of sodium to a sufficient degree to melt the chlorid of sodiumand dissolve the barytes, removing the mixture of barytes and chlorid ofsodium from the metallic ore, and thereafter separating the barytes andsaid chlorid of sodium.

7. The method of separating barytes fromzinc and barytes ore, whichconsists in placing with the ore a chemical agent capable of dissolvingbarytes when heated, heating the ore and chemicalagent to a sufficientdegree to dissolve the barytes, and removing the barytes from the Zincore.

8. The method of separating barytes from zinc and barytes ore, whichconsists in placing with the ore a chemical agent capable of dissolvingbarytes when heated, heating the ore and chemical agent to a sufficientdegree to dissolve the barytes, removing the mixture of barytes andchemical agent from the zinc ore, and thereafter separating the barytesand said chemical agent.

9. The method of separating barytes from zinc and barytes ore, whichconsists in placing with the ore a salt capable of dissolving baryteswhen heated to the melting point of the salt, heating the ore and saltto a suflicient degree to melt the salt and dissolve the barytes, andremoving the barytes from the zinc ore.

10. The method of separating barytes from zinc and barytes ore, whichconsists in placing with the ore a salt capable of dissolving baryteswhen heated to the melting point of the salt, heating the ore and saltto a suflicient degree to melt the salt and dis solve the barytes,removing the mixture of barytes and salt from the zinc ore, andthereafter separating the barytes and the salt.

11. The method of separating barytes from zinc and barytes ore, whichconsists in placing chlorid of sodium with the ore, heating the ore andchlorid of sodium to a sufiicient degree to melt the chlorid of sodiumand dissolve the barytes, and removing the barytes from the zinc ore.

12. The method of separating barytes from zinc and barytes ore, whichconsists in placing chlorid of sodium with the ore, heat ing the ore andchlorid of sodium to a sufiicient degree to melt the chlorid of sodiumand dissolve the barytes, removing the mixture of barytes and chlorid ofsodium from the zinc ore, and thereafter separating the barytes andchlorid of sodium.

CHARLES JASON GREENSTREET.

In the presence of A. J. MCCAULEY, E. Bw LINN.

